Shimla’s oldest antiquarian bookstore struggles to remain afloat amid pandemic

Exuding an old-world attraction, the vintage retailer is stacked and cluttered with a number of first and uncommon editions collected from sellers all over the world.

Nestled in a nook alongside Shimla’s well-known Mall Highway stands ‘Maria Brothers’ — one in all India’s oldest antiquarian bookstores. Established in 1946, the rickety retailer has stood the take a look at of time and is a wealthy repository of vintage prints, images, maps, artwork and uncommon assortment of books, with the oldest one courting again to 1552.

Unlatching the pale blue entrance door and eradicating the tin covers from the show home windows of the dainty bookstore on a cold winter morning, proprietor Rajiv Sud says the Covid-19 pandemic has drastically affected the already dying enterprise.

“The bookstore was based by my late father OC Sud on the center or latter finish of 1946. He was a professional geographer from Forman Christian School in Lahore,” Sud tells the indianexpess.com.

Having moved again to India earlier than Partition, OC Sud, struggling to discover a job, finally settled on opening the bookstore. “The shop primarily handled new books however in a while, he (his father) switched to vintage out-of-print books,” Sud says.

Having moved again to India earlier than Partition, OC Sud, struggling to discover a job, finally settled on opening the bookstore. (Categorical Picture by Avantika Chopra)

Exuding an old-world attraction, the vintage retailer is stacked and cluttered with a number of first and uncommon editions collected from numerous antiquarian sellers inside India and out of doors. “At a tough estimation, I feel I ought to have about 4,000-5,000 books,” says Sud.

Pulling out a neatly wrapped e book from a plastic leaflet, Sud exhibits the oldest e book in his treasure trove. “This can be a 30-page booklet on India revealed in France in 1552,” he says whereas turning the crisp pages of the uncommon merchandise.

A 30-page booklet on India revealed in France in 1552 is likely one of the oldest books harboured on the antiquarian bookstore. (Categorical Picture by Avantika Chopra)

Whereas amassing uncommon and vintage gadgets is a matter of satisfaction for any antiquarian, for Sud, a stack of uncommon books purchased from a seller turned fruitful when he discovered a replica of the American Declaration of Independence printed in June 1776.

“We discovered the American Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. This was a very long time in the past. Round 10-15 years again,” he says. “However now we don’t know whether or not that was an authentic or a replica.”

Whereas antiquarian bookstores like Maria Brothers have already been grappling with low footfalls, the Covid-19 pandemic has hit them onerous. (Categorical Picture by Avantika Chopra)

Past books, the shop additionally homes work, artefacts and musical devices. Nonetheless, these are “only for show and never on the market”. “Our fundamental line of labor is with outdated travelogues on Western Himalayas in Tibet and primarily British Indian historical past,” he provides.

Illuminated with solely three bulbs and a ray of sunshine coming by way of a small window, the bookstore has hosted a number of personalities from all over the world. “A number of overseas dignitaries, Edmund Hillary, Benazir Bhutto and Maneka Gandhi have visited the shop. Indira Gandhi had referred to as my father to the retreat the place she was staying throughout the 1971 summit with Bhutto,” Sud tells with satisfaction. “Even at times filmmakers like Imtiaz Ali and all frequent this place very often.”

To revive the enterprise, the proprietor does plan to shift the inventory on-line, nonetheless, the duty is cumbersome and time-consuming. (Categorical Picture by Avantika Chopra)

Whereas antiquarian bookstores like Maria Brothers have already been grappling with low footfalls, the Covid-19 pandemic has hit them onerous. “Covid, like for many of us within the commerce, has affected us additionally. The enterprise is sort of 80 per cent down. The standard of vacationers which can be coming in should not the shopping for varieties and now we have been grossly dented by the pandemic,” he says.

Illuminated with solely three bulbs and a small window, the bookstore has hosted a number of personalities from all over the world. (Categorical Picture by Avantika Chopra)

With enterprise not trying up prior to now two years, Sud, who final added a espresso desk e book to his current assortment in 2017, has stopped investing within the enterprise. “Because of the lack of enterprise and poor studying habits of individuals, most antiquarian shops in India are step by step winding up.”

“Individuals don’t have the time and since all the things is obtainable on-line on Kindle and extra, no one needs to have the pleasure of leafing by way of a e book from a bodily perspective,” he provides. In addition to declining curiosity, the price of the books is one other main deterrent for patrons, he says.

With enterprise not trying up prior to now two years, Sud, who final added a espresso desk e book to his current assortment in 2017, has stopped investing within the enterprise. (Categorical Picture by Avantika Chopra)

Whereas he does plan to shift the inventory on-line, the duty is cumbersome and time-consuming. “I must have this whole inventory catalogued by a superb librarian who can achieve this by the identify of the creator in addition to the title of the e book. Furthermore, it’s a laborious course of as a result of the situation of each e book should be talked about exactly whether it is put on-line,” he provides.

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